U.S. patent application number 13/322341 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for fastener having a self-locking attaching device to a vehicle body part.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Lara Buillas.
Application Number | 20120073089 13/322341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42041572 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buillas; Lara |
March 29, 2012 |
FASTENER HAVING A SELF-LOCKING ATTACHING DEVICE TO A VEHICLE BODY
PART
Abstract
A fastener including: a shank designed to be throughly
accommodated in use with a clearance in a slot of a body part; a
hammer-like head which overhangingly extends from both sides of the
shank, perpendicularly to a symmetric axis of the shank, insertable
in use through the slot under the edge of the latter and oriented
parallel to the slot; and an elastically deformable,
suction-cap-shaped flange carried by the shank on the side opposite
to the head, distanced from therefrom; a rotation of the shank to
arrange the head perpendicularly to the slot makes it cooperate by
interference under the edge of the slot with a consequent elastic
deformation of the flange; the shank carries two elastically
deformable oblique arms, which overhangingly extend from both sides
of the shank, in a direction perpendicular to the head and so as to
reciprocally move away from each other towards the flange,
dimensioned so as to elastically cooperate against the shank when
the head is introduced through the slot, and then stretch to
snappingly engage the slot when the head is rotated.
Inventors: |
Buillas; Lara; (Pontey,
IT) |
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Glenview
IL
|
Family ID: |
42041572 |
Appl. No.: |
13/322341 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US10/36164 |
371 Date: |
November 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/304 20150115;
B60R 13/0206 20130101; F16B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/293 |
International
Class: |
F16B 21/02 20060101
F16B021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 26, 2009 |
IT |
TO2009A000398 |
Claims
1. A fastener for an accessory part or element to be secured to a
vehicle body part, the fastener comprising at a first end thereof
an attaching device to the body part, comprising: a shank designed
to be throughly accommodated in use with a clearance in a slot of
the body part; a hammer-like head shaped to be insertable in use
through the slot immediately under an edge thereof, when the head
is oriented parallelly to the slot, the head being carried by a
first end of the shank so as to overhangingly extend from both
sides of the shank, perpendicularly to a symmetry axis of the
shank; and an elastically deformable, suction-cap-shaped flange
carried by the shank on the side opposite to the head, at a
predetermined distance therefrom; wherein the head is adapted, upon
a rotation in use of the shank which arranges it perpendicularly to
the slot, to cooperate by interference under the edge of the slot
with a consequent elastic deformation of the flange, characterized
in that the shank carries two elastically deformable oblique arms,
which overhangingly extend from both sides of the shank, in a
direction perpendicular to the head and so as to reciprocally move
away from each other towards the flange, the arms being dimensioned
so as to cooperate in use with the edge of the slot to elastically
deform against the shank when the head is introduced through the
slot, and then stretch to snappingly engage the slot when the head
is rotated perpendicularly to the slot.
2. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that the
hammer-like head has the same shape as the slot in plan; and has a
maximum longitudinal extension in a first direction perpendicular
to the symmetry axis of the shank; and a maximum transversal
extension in a second direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis
of the shank and perpendicular to the first extension.
3. A fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that said
maximum longitudinal extension is only immediately smaller than the
longitudinal extension of the slot; while said maximum transversal
extension is only immediately smaller than the transversal
extension of the slot.
4. A fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that said
elastically deformable arms transversally and overhangingly extend
with respect to the shank in said second direction perpendicular to
the symmetry axis, from opposite side flanks of said hammer-like
head and towards said flange.
5. A fastener according to claim 4, characterized in that said
elastically deformable arms overhangingly extend, in length, close
to a peripheral edge of said flange and at a predetermined distance
from said shank; and in that on the side of said side flanks of the
hammer-like head, said shank is provided with respective recesses
for abuttingly receiving in use respective free ends of the arms
when the latter are in the deformed condition.
6. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that said
elastically deformable arms have the shape of flat rectangular
wings arranged, with respect to said shank, in an anchor-like
configuration; and in that they have a maximum transversal
dimension in a direction perpendicular to the overhangingly
extension direction of the arms with respect to the shank, which
maximum transversal dimension is only immediately smaller than the
width of said slot.
7. A fastener according to one of the claim 1, characterized in
that said hammer-like head is provided, at a first face thereof
facing in use the flange, with inclined-plane means adapted to
intercept in use the edge of the slot in response to a rotation of
the hammer-like head with respect to a direction of introduction of
the hammer-like head in the slot, in which the hammer-like head and
the slot are arranged parallel to each other.
8. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that it
comprises, at a second end thereof opposite to the first, a
retaining device for said accessory part or element.
9. A fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that it is
made in a one piece of molded synthetic plastic material.
10. A system for securing an accessory vehicle part or element to a
vehicle body part, comprising a slot thoroughly obtained through
the body part and a fastener provided, at a first end thereof, with
an attaching device to the body part and, at a second end opposite
to the first, with a retaining device for the accessory part or
element; wherein the attaching device comprises a shank thoroughly
accommodated with a clearance through the slot; a hammer-like head
shaped so as to be able to be inserted through the slot up to
immediately under an edge thereof, the head being carried by a
first end of the shank so as to overhangingly extend from both
sides of the shank, perpendicularly to a symmetry axis of the
shank; and an elastically deformable, suction-cap-shaped flange
carried by the shank on the side opposite to the head, at a
predetermined distance therefrom; the head being designed to be
arranged, in response to a rotation of the shank in the slot, in a
first, introduction configuration, in which it is oriented
parallelly to the slot, and in a second, locking configuration, in
which the head is oriented perpendicularly to the slot and
cooperates by interference under the edge of the slot with a
consequent elastic deformation of the flange; characterized in that
the shank carries two oblique, elastically deformable arms which
overhangingly extend from both sides of the shank, in a direction
perpendicular to the head and so as to move away from each other
towards the flange, the arms being dimensioned so as to cooperate
in use with the edge of the slot to be elastically deformed against
the shank in the introduction configuration of the head in the
slot, and then stretch to snappingly engage the slot when the head
takes the locking configuration, so as to prevent any further
relative rotation of the shank in the slot.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener of the type
having at an end thereof an attaching device to a body part of a
vehicle and at the opposite end a retaining device for a part or
accessory to be attached to the vehicle body part. In particular, a
fastener of this type is used to attach cables or tubes under the
body or a finishing part to the frame of the vehicle body.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is known that in fasteners of the type described above
the attaching device to the vehicle body part is generally of the
bayonet type, and comprises, in particular, a hammer-shaped head,
which overhangingly protrudes, from both sides, from an end of a
shank of the fastener, at a predetermined distance from an
elastically deformable generally suction-cap shaped flange, carried
by the shank; in use, the head is introduced through a
rectangular-shaped slot or perforation in the body part, arranging
the head parallel to the slot, and thus the fastener with the shank
engaged through the slot and the head arranged immediately
underneath a peripheral edge of the slot is turned by 90.degree. to
arrange the head oriented perpendicularly, in order to take the
latter to engage the peripheral edge of the slot, with consequent
elastic deformation of the flange, which therefore works as elastic
element, which maintains in tension the head/edge coupling of the
slot.
[0003] Regretfully, in use, despite the presence of angular locking
teeth obtained on the shank and despite the tension ensured by the
elastic deformation of the flange with consequent generation of
angular locking by friction, the fastener may be subjected to an
accidental rotation which causes the head to be released from the
slot, consequently putting the clip out of order. The accidental
event may occur more frequently when a seal is arranged between the
flange of the fastener and the body part to prevent dirt and
humidity from reaching the slot and consequently penetrating inside
the body part, which may be a box-like element of the body.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome this
drawback of the prior art by providing a clip of the type described
above which, after having been installed, cannot undergo accidental
rotations but remains locked in the assumed position because it is
provided with a fastening lock of the self-locking type. This all,
providing in all cases a fastener which is simple, reliable, not
very large and relatively cost-effective.
[0005] The present invention thus relates to a fastener for a part
or accessory to be secured to a vehicle body part, as disclosed in
claim 1.
[0006] In particular, the fastener according to the present
invention has an attaching device of the body part comprising: a
shank designed to be throughly accommodated in use, with a
clearance, in a slot of the body part; a hammer-like head shaped to
be insertable in use through the slot immediately under an edge
thereof, when the head is oriented parallel to the slot, the head
being carried by a first end of the shank so as to overhangingly
extend from both sides of the shank, perpendicularly to a symmetry
axis of the shank; and an elastically deformable,
suction-cap-shaped flange carried by the shank on the side opposite
to the head, at a predetermined distance therefrom; wherein the
head is adapted, upon a rotation in use of the shank which arranges
it perpendicularly to the slot, to cooperate by interference under
the edge of the slot with a consequent elastic deformation of the
flange.
[0007] According to a feature of the invention, the shank carries
two elastically deformable oblique arms, which overhangingly extend
from both sides of the shank, in a direction perpendicular to the
head and so as to reciprocally move away from each other towards
the flange, the arms being dimensioned so as to cooperate in use
with the edge of the slot to elastically deform against the shank
when the head is introduced through the slot, and then stretch to
snappingly engage the slot when the head is rotated perpendicularly
to the slot.
[0008] In this manner, when the head is arranged perpendicularly to
the slot, the elastic arms engage the slot in the sense of its
longitudinal extension, thus preventing any further rotation of the
shank in the slot, because the arms, following a possible minor
rotation, touch the peripheral edge of the slot with the side
flanks thereof and not in the longitudinal overhanging extension
direction, therefore they cannot be deformed, in fact locking the
head in the rotated position.
[0009] In particular, the elastically deformable arms have the
shape of flat rectangular wings arranged, with respect to the
shank, in an anchor-like configuration and have a maximum
transversal dimension in a direction perpendicular to the
overhangingly extension direction of the arms with respect to the
shank, which maximum transversal dimension is only immediately
smaller than the width of the slot.
[0010] The invention further relates to a system for securing a
part or accessory of a vehicle to a vehicle body part using the
aforesaid fastener according to claim 10.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent from the following description of a preferred
embodiment thereof, exclusively provided by way of non-limitative
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an axonometric three-quarters front view from
the bottom of a fastener made according to the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 2 and 3 show in enlarged scale respective orthogonal
elevation views of an attaching device of the fastener to a vehicle
body part, the rest of the fastener being only diagrammatically
shown by a dash-and-dotted line; and
[0014] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show respective elevated views of the
attaching device of the fastener in various configurations of use
assumable during its coupling with the body element, shown
diagrammatically in section; and
[0015] FIGS. 7 and 8 show two plan views from the bottom of the
attaching device of the fastener in the configurations of FIGS. 4
and 6 respectively and of the body part with which it couples,
shown with a dashed line.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016] With reference to figures from 1 to 8, numeral 1 indicates
as a whole a fastener for a part or accessory (known and not shown
for the sake of simplicity) to be secured to a vehicle body part 2.
The fastener 1 comprises at a first end thereof an attaching device
4 to the body part 2, which is the specific object of the present
invention, and, on a second end thereof, opposite to the first, a
retaining device 5, of known type, for the part or accessory, in
the non-limiting example shown consisting of a rack-shaped claw for
tubes or cables, or, alternatively, for example, of a female screw
(known and not shown). In figures from 2 to 8, being of any type,
the retaining device 5 is replaced by a block shown by
dash-and-dotted line.
[0017] The attaching device 4 comprises a shank 10 which can be
throughly accommodated in use with clearance in a slot 11 of the
body part 2, a hammer-like head 12 shaped to be insertable in use
through the slot 11 immediately under an edge 13 thereof, when the
head 12 is oriented parallel to the slot 11 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) and
an elastically deformable, suction-cap-shaped flange 14 carried by
the shank 10 on the side opposite to the head 12, in the case in
point a part of the retaining device 5, immediately under it, at a
predetermined distance from the head 12.
[0018] In particular, the head 12 is carried by a first end 16
(FIGS. 1 and 3) of the shank 10, opposite to the retaining device
5, so as to overhangingly extend from both sides of the shank 10,
perpendicularly to a symmetry axis A of the shank 10, which is
cylindrical in the illustrated case in point.
[0019] Because of its arrangement and T-shaped arrangement with
respect to the shank 10, the head 12 is adapted as a consequence of
a rotation in use of the shank 10 which arranges the head 12
perpendicularly to the slot 11 (FIGS. 6 and 8), instead of parallel
thereto, to cooperate by interference under the edge 13 of the slot
11 with consequent elastic deformation of the flange 14.
[0020] On the basis of the description, the head 12 is therefore
adapted to assume as a consequence of a rotation of the shank 10 in
the slot 11, a first introduction configuration (FIGS. 4, 5, 7), in
which it is oriented parallel to the slot 11, and a second locking
configuration (FIGS. 6, 8), in which the head 12 is oriented
perpendicularly to the slot 11 and cooperates by interference under
the edge 13 of the slot 11 with consequent elastic deformation of
the flange 14, which thus applies on the head 12 a consequent
tension along axis A which presses, in use, an upper face 20 of the
head 12 against the body part 2 and, in particular, against the
rear part of the edge 13 of the slot 12.
[0021] In order to allow the head 12 to more easily reach the
locking configuration, starting from the introduction
configuration, after a 90.degree. rotation, either clockwise or
counterclockwise, of the shank 10, the face 20, which is facing the
flange 14, is provided with inclined plane means 21 (of known type)
adapted to intercept in use the edge 13 of the slot 11 as a
consequence of the rotation of the hammer-shaped head 12 with
respect to an introduction direction of the head 12 itself in the
slot 11, wherein the hammer-shaped head 12 and slot 11 are arranged
parallel to one another.
[0022] According to the main aspect of the invention, in
combination with what described above, the attaching device 4 is
made so as to be self-locking in the locking configuration of the
head 12.
[0023] For this purpose, the shank 10 carries two elastically
deformable oblique arms, which overhangingly extend from both sides
of the shank 10, in a direction perpendicular to the head 12 and so
as to reciprocally move away from each other towards the flange 14.
The arms 25 being dimensioned so as to cooperate in use in the
introduction configuration of the head 12 with the edge 13 of the
slot 11 (FIG. 5) to elastically be deformed against the shank 10
when the head 12 is introduced through the slot 11, and then
stretch to snappingly engage the slot 11 (FIGS. 6 and 8) when the
head 12 is rotated perpendicularly to the slot 11.
[0024] A hammer-shaped head 12 has the same shape of the slot 11 in
plan view and has a maximum longitudinal extension in a first
direction perpendicular to the symmetric axis A of the shank 10;
and a maximum transversal extension in a second direction
perpendicular to the symmetric axis A of the shank 10 and
perpendicular to the first extension.
[0025] Such maximum longitudinal and transversal extensions are
only slightly smaller than the maximum longitudinal and transversal
extension, respectively, of the slot 11, which is rectangular-shape
in plan view in the illustrated case in point.
[0026] The elastically deformable arms 25 extends transversally and
overhangingly with respect to the shank 10 in the mentioned second
direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis A, starting from
opposite side flanks 27 of the head 12, and towards the flange
14.
[0027] Furthermore, the elastically deformable arms 25
overhangingly extend, in length, close to a peripheral edge 29 of
the flange 14 and at a predetermined distance from the shank 10;
the latter is provided on the side of the side flanks 27 of the
head 12 and at the flange 14 with respective recesses 30 (FIG. 1)
for abuttingly receiving in use respective free ends 32 of the arms
25 when the latter are in the deformed condition, shown in FIG.
5.
[0028] The elastically deformable arms 25 preferably have the shape
of flat rectangular wings arranged, with respect to the shank 10,
in an anchor-like configuration; and have a maximum transversal
dimension in a direction perpendicular to the overhanging extension
direction of the arms 12 themselves with respect to the shank 10,
which maximum transversal dimension is only just smaller than the
width of the slot (FIG. 8).
[0029] By virtue of the described structure, the fastener 1 is made
in one piece in a molded synthetic plastic material, and is
therefore cost-effective to make.
[0030] According to the description, the fastener 1 thus belongs to
a securing system, indicated as a whole by numeral 50 (FIGS. 4-8),
of a vehicle part or accessory (known and not shown) to a body part
2, further comprising the slot 11 obtained through the body part 2,
in addition to the fastener 1.
[0031] In use, the fastener 1 faces the slot 11, with the head 12
arranged parallel to the latter and in axis with the same and then
by exerting a push in the direction of axis A (arrow in FIG. 5) the
head 12 is introduced through the slot 11, until the inclined plane
means 21 go beyond the edge 13, positioning themselves behind the
same; such an introduction stress further elastically deforms the
flange 14, allowing the head 12 to go beyond the edge 13, under the
same.
[0032] During such introduction movement, the arms 25, with the
respective oblique lower faces 51 thereof (FIGS. 4 and 5) collide
against the edge 13 and are consequently bent towards the shank 10,
so as to reduce the spreading thereof, until it is cancelled (arms
25 arranged parallel to the shank 10, with the ends 32 abutting
against the recesses 30--FIG. 5).
[0033] In these conditions, they enter in the slot 11 by virtue of
the side clearance which exists between the edge 13 and the shank
10 that they occupy nearly entirely with their thickness.
[0034] Subsequently, by maintaining the axial trust in the sense of
the arrow, the operator in charge of assembly turns the fastener 1
by 90.degree. in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 5) to take the
head 12 to the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, oriented
perpendicularly to the slot 11.
[0035] During such a movement, the oblique arms 25 pass from an
orientation transversal to the slot 11 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to an
orientation parallel to the slot 11 (FIG. 6), in which the faces 51
stop cooperating with the edge 13 and the arms 25 are free to
extend in the maximum spreading position, occupying most of the
length of the slot 11.
[0036] In such a configuration, respective side edges 60 of the
arms 25 (FIGS. 1 and 3) are arranged parallel and adjacent to
longitudinal sides of the edge 13 and the arms 25 nearly integrally
occupy the entire width of the slot 11; in this manner, any further
rotation of the shank 10 in the slot 11 is prevented because any
attempt to rotate the shank 10 makes the edges or sides 60
intercept the edge 13, blocking the rotation itself, the arms 25
not being flexible in the direction of longitudinal extension of
the head 12, direction in which the edges 60 are indeed oriented,
but only in the transversal direction of extension of the head 12,
direction in which the faces 51 are oriented on the other hand.
[0037] Once installed, the attaching device 4 is consequently
self-locking and no longer allows the fastener 1 to be released at
all from the body parts 2, unless obviously the arms 25 are broken,
operation which can only be carried out intentionally by an
operator who wants to disassemble the fastener 1.
* * * * *